I believe the team will use more of an Edge as Strong LB

[Cowboyny]

The hard bit for me is figuring out who is who. I can get the main guys

• Earl Thomas (29) playing single high
• Cam Chancellor (31) on the left playing a hybrid S/LB.
• Bobby Wagner (54) is at Mike
• Bruce Irvin (51) is LEO

Who is the WILL(56) and SAM (57)? The only reason I ask is that I think that WILL is Cliff Avril who I thought was a pass rusher.

In the base defense (early downs), Sam lines up at the line of scrimmage, Leo is on the other side and there is a safety inside the box. If they play Neal at the Will, either Jaylon or Lve has to play the Sam. In my opinion, think the Sam will be more of a hybrid player.

 

[tm1119]

Leo is basically the RE, he can either stand up or with his hand in the dirt. Think Neal will be playing more of the will linebacker in certain packages.

Ya I got that...so seems like what you’re trying to do is replace Jaylon with an edge rusher? Which most likely isn’t going to happen

 

[Cowboyny]

The SAM is a 2 down backer...with Quinn’s scheme I don’t think that is much of a fit.

I think he’s looking for more of 3/4 rush LBr...like Ojulari.

So more of a backup Leo? Think we need that, along with a legitimate, sam linebacker. Jaylon probably moves there, but we need more depth at the linebacker position. KJ Wright would of been ideal for this role, but they still have hopes for Jaylon.

 

[Cowboyny]

Ya I got that...so seems like what you’re trying to do is replace Jaylon with an edge rusher? Which most likely isn’t going to happen

Ultimately, I think that is the plan, but they still have hope for Jaylon. You can draft a 3-4 OLB type to play some Sam as well as the Leo position.

 

[tm1119]

Yeah, Neal could play WLB while Gregory (or Ojulari) played the LEO spot.

The LEO position is just basically a Weakside DE who is in a two (or three) point stance in a wide-9 alignment. You still have a “front four” (one of them being the LEO) with 3 LB’s and 4 DB’s in base, although most of the time they’d probably be in a nickel which would be with the LEO standing in a wide-9 alignment with two LB’s (say LVE and Neal) and 5 DB’s.

Here is a shot of the Seattle defense that Quinn ran. You can see that the LEO is out on the edge (here in a 3 point stance). You can also see there are 3 other DL as well as 3 LB’s. The SLB is lined up on the line of scrimmage while the MLB and the WLB are lined up in a more traditional off the ball position.

So yes, Neal would definitely play at the same time as a LEO.

If Jaylon is playing the SAM, he could play up at the LOS and have some more opportunities to get after the QB than he has had in previous seasons, with LVE in the middle and Neal as the Will. Personally, I think that Jaylon is pretty decent getting pressure on the QB.

I mean thanks for trying to explain...but wasn’t really on target at all. Everything in the OP specifically said Strong side LB, not Leo. My logic was right that it would be too many LB’s. But OP is trying to push Jaylon to the bench and not Neal. Which I think we all know just isn’t going to happen.

 

[tm1119]

Ultimately, I think that is the plan, but they still have hope for Jaylon. You can draft a 3-4 OLB type to play some Sam as well as the Leo position.

We definitely need more pass rush help behind Gregory, that I agree with. But no I really don’t think they are going to bench Jaylon this year. He makes a ton of $ and they let his contract guarantee when there was a chance to get out this offseason. Would be dumb, even for our FO. And honestly, Jaylon might excel as a SAM playing closer to the LOS where he doesn’t have to diagnose gaps on run plays nearly as much.


I wouldn’t get too caught trying to recreate the legion of boom. Or even Bruce Irvin for that matter, he was a very unique player.

 

[cnuball21]

So more of a backup Leo? Think we need that, along with a legitimate, sam linebacker. Jaylon probably moves there, but we need more depth at the linebacker position. KJ Wright would of been ideal for this role, but they still have hopes for Jaylon.

I think the SAM is borderline obsolete in today’s NFL...

We’re going to run nickel/dime a majority of the time so I don’t see why you’d use a pick until late in the draft.

 

[fivetwos]

Being from NY, I got to see the Giants. It was their nascar package that gave teams trouble, 4 defensive ends rushing the passer. The Cowboys were the only team to handle their front.

Yep, and you've got to have more than one and change rushers you can count on to run packages like that.

I thought we may see similar under Nolan after they added Griffen etc....but that obviously didn't work out.

Instead I suppose we will give QBs all the time they need and try to cover all day.

That's always worked well against Rodgers. Guess we will have to wait for him to quit also before we have a shot to get out of the NFC.

 

[AsthmaField]

I mean thanks for trying to explain...but wasn’t really on target at all. Everything in the OP specifically said Strong side LB, not Leo. My logic was right that it would be too many LB’s. But OP is trying to push Jaylon to the bench and not Neal. Which I think we all know just isn’t going to happen.

My bad... I thought you said that Leo wouldn’t be on the field at the same time as a WLB.

 

[AsthmaField]

Yeah, I couldn't figure out what was happening.....That makes more sense except Gus Bradley was the DC in 2012, Dan Quinn was at Florida for this period.

Right... but that is the defense that Quinn ran. It is just the first pic I ran across that showed it.

 

[Cowboyny]

Yep, and you've got to have more than one and change rushers you can count on to run packages like that.

I thought we may see similar under Nolan after they added Griffen etc....but that obviously didn't work out.

Instead I suppose we will give QBs all the time they need and try to cover all day.

That's always worked well against Rodgers. Guess we will have to wait for him to quit also before we have a shot to get out of the NFC.

Adding interior pressure is the key, think our two edge starters are fine.

 

[Cowboyny]

I think the SAM is borderline obsolete in today’s NFL...

We’re going to run nickel/dime a majority of the time so I don’t see why you’d use a pick until late in the draft.

Good point.